'It's Number One - it's Top of the Pops'. It's not just the story of a long-running television programme. The story of Top of the Pops is the story of British popular music. It is a shadow history of British rock & roll, and beyond. It is the story of 'Auntie' BBC getting down with the kids. It is the story of how a 6-week show turned into a pan-global phenomenon and how for 40 years, Top of the Pops was a British institution. 'It's Number One - it's Top Of The Pops' for every generation from 1964, until the show ended in 2006, that was the sentence every young television viewer sat down to hear. At its peak, a quarter of the UK's entire population was watching. Top Of The Pops was the pivotal pop television programme over its 2,000 weekly episodes, the programme gave peak airtime to every act, from The Beatles to Beyonce - from Cream to Coldplay - from Pink Floyd to Pink! From its humble beginnings in 1964 from a disused church through to the programme's pan-global appeal in the 1990s, Top Of The Pops has become synonymous with the best in pop television. With a span of nearly half a century, there are so many highlights: The Beatles only live appearance, in 1966, promoting 'Paperback Writer' - the Who getting banned - the first colour edition in 1969 - David Bowie's breakthrough performance of 'Starman' in 1972 - Nirvana's chaotic 1991 appearance promoting 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' - the Blur versus Oasis battle - Justin Timberlake playing bass with the Flaming Lips in 2003 - Top Of The Pops II was launched in 1994, bringing the programme to a whole new audience. Around the same time, the BBC licensed the "Top Of The Pops" brand to over 90 countries, with estimated audience of 100 million. Though it ceased broadcasting in 2006, thanks to the internet, compilation CDs; repeated viewing on BBC4 - Top Of The Pops lives on. This is the first book to tell that incredible story.

About the Author
Patrick Humphries started out as a 'hip young gunslinger' on New Musical Express in 1976, and has been writing about music ever since. In the intervening years he has interviewed three Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Roger Waters, Joe Strummer, Elvis Costello, Cher, Neil Tennant and Art Garfunkel, among others. He has contributed to The Times, The Independent, The Guardian, Mojo and Sunday Express and has written numerous books including definitive biographies of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, Tom Waits, Richard Thompson and Lonnie Donegan. He has also written and presented a wide variety of series and individual documentaries for BBC Radio 2 and Radio 4. Steve Blacknell started in promotions and A&R working for the likes of ABC, Decca and Chrysalis promoting acts such as The Moody Blues, Leo Sayer, Jethro Tull and Steely Dan. In 1980 he joined Jive Records and signed A Flock of Seagulls. In 1982 he made the heady leap into TV - hosting the BBC's pop/fashion flagship show Riverside, became a regular music correspondent on BBC Breakfast Time and was Europe's inaugural Video Jockey. He was a regular at Radio 1 hosting In Concert and also hosted The Old Grey Whistle Test on a number of occasions. In 1984 as host/co-creator he won a coveted 'Ace Award' in the USA for best music show with his MTV USA show London Calling. He now specialises in PR and brand development.

Reviews
'While the programme itself is now gone, you can still relive those classic moments on the internet and the BBC. Though, if pressed, my vote would still be to bring Top of the Pops back to our television screens, where it belongs. But if that doesn't happen, then this 50th anniversary book, will tell you all you need to know about a genuine television institution.' Sir Cliff Richard 'We were the very first act on the show and it changed our lives... this book captures the magic that made Top of the Pops'. Bill Wyman, The Rolling Stones



Book Information
ISBN 9780857160522
Author Patrick Humphries
Format Paperback
Page Count 260
Imprint McNidder & Grace
Publisher McNidder & Grace